Osun Women March Against Alleged Police Brutality Ahead of Governorship Poll

In a bold move to express their dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in Osun State, a group of women, led by the First Lady, Titilola Adeleke, took to the streets on Monday to protest against what they termed 'indiscriminate arrest and violence' in the run-up to the forthcoming governorship election. The protest, which started along the Osogbo-Ilobu Road, ended at the road leading to the Osun State Police Command, with the women bearing placards that conveyed messages such as 'Election is not war,' 'Stop indiscriminate arrest of our husbands,' and 'Police must be neutral.' The women, who were joined by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ayobola Awolowo, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Eniola Omotosho, among others, were prevented from accessing the main entrance of the police command. However, they were attended to by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Samuel Etaifo, who assured them that their concerns would be addressed. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Adeleke called for a peaceful election and urged the police to invite some notable chieftains of the All Progressives Congress for questioning over the rising incidents of violence in the state. She stated, 'We are demanding a free and fair election in the forthcoming poll. We want peace; let there be peace. Invite APC chieftains for questioning. They should stop killing our husbands and children. Make them sign an undertaking.' Adeleke also presented a letter containing the protesters' demands to the police commissioner. Responding, Etaifo said the command had worked hard to de-escalate tension in the state since his arrival and assured the protesters that their demands would be considered. He warned that the police would not tolerate any act capable of negatively affecting the election, adding that anyone caught violating the law would be arrested and taken to Abuja.